Measurement of IR emissions and adjustment of output signal

ABSTRACT

Various arrangements for monitoring and mitigating infrared (IR) interference from a display device are presented. IR emissions from a display device are measured the IR signaling characteristics may be adjusted to mitigate interference from the emissions. Calibration methods may be used determine display emission characteristics by displaying test patterns and video clips. Characteristics of the display patterns and video clips may be correlated to high IR emissions.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/847,444, filed Dec. 19, 2017, entitled “MEASUREMENT OF IREMISSIONS AND ADJUSTMENT OF OUTPUT SIGNAL,” which is a divisional ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/333,290, filed Jul. 16, 2014,entitled “MEASUREMENT OF IR EMISSIONS AND ADJUSTMENT OF OUTPUT SIGNAL,”the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND

A remote control is often used to remotely send command or instructionsto devices such as stereos, televisions, television receivers, and otherdevices. The remote control may send commands using an infrared (IR)signal. Modulations or changes in the infrared signal intensity,frequency, and/or the like, may be used to transfer information andcommands from the remote to the devices.

In some environments, the infrared signaling may be disrupted oraffected by infrared emissions from other devices. Display devices suchas televisions and monitors, for example, may emit infrared energy. Theinfrared energy emitted by the display devices may be a byproduct of theoperation of the display. The infrared energy emitted by a displaydevice may interfere with the operation of the remote control and maycause the remote to be inoperative.

Thus what is needed are methods and systems for mitigating thedisruptions to infrared communications to and from a remote control dueto emissions of IR energy from other devices.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a television receiver configured to mitigate IRinterference from a display device is presented. The television receivermay include one or more processors and a memory communicatively coupledwith and readable by the one or more processors and having storedtherein processor-readable instructions. When executed by the one ormore processors, the instructions may cause the one or more processorsto initiate a calibration mode and generate test patterns for display onthe display device, the test patterns may be configured to induceinfrared (IR) emissions from the display device. The instructions mayfurther cause the one or more processors to measure IR emissions duringthe display of the test patterns and determine IR emissioncharacteristics. IR configuration based at least in part based on the IRemission characteristics may be determined. The configuration mayinclude settings for IR signaling that is configured to mitigateinterference from the IR emissions. The instructions may further causethe one or more processors to initiate the IR configuration.

In embodiments, the processor-readable instructions, when executed, mayfurther cause the one or more processors to receive IR signals duringthe calibration mode and determine error rates of the IR signals. Theprocessor-readable instructions, when executed, may also further causethe one or more processors to adjust the IR configuration to reduce theerror rates. In some embodiments the IR settings may be optimized toreduce power needed for IR signaling. In some embodiments the IRconfiguration may include IR power level settings or IR signal encodingsettings. The processor-readable instructions, when executed, mayfurther cause the one or more processors to correlate IR emissions withspecific patterns displayed on the display device.

In some embodiments a method for mitigating IR interference from adisplay device is presented. The method may include initiating acalibration mode and generating test patterns for display on the displaydevice. The test patterns may be configured to induce infrared (IR)emissions from the display device. The method may further includemeasuring IR emissions during the displaying of the test patterns anddetermining IR emission characteristics. The method may includedetermining an IR configuration based at least in part based on the IRemission characteristics and initiating the IR configuration.

In some embodiments a non-transitory processor-readable medium formitigating IR interference from a display device is presented. Themedium may include processor-readable instructions configured to causeone or more processors to initiate a calibration mode and generate testpatterns for display on the display device. The test patterns may beconfigured to induce infrared (IR) emissions from the display device.The medium may include processor-readable instructions configured tocause one or more processors to measure IR emissions during the displayof the test patterns and also determine IR emission characteristics. Themedium may include processor-readable instructions configured to causeone or more processors to further determine an IR configuration based atleast in part based on the IR emission characteristics and initiate theIR configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of variousembodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. Inthe appended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an infrared communication system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a satellite television distributionsystem

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a television receiver configured toanalyze IR signals.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a method for determining IR signalcharacteristics for reliable signaling from a remote control.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method for determining bursts ofIR emissions.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method for determining IRconfigurations for a display device.

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate embodiments of sensors with movable filters.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate embodiments of sensors with a directivitycomponent.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment with multiple IR sensors configured tocapture signals from multiple paths from a remote.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Remote controls often use an infrared (IR) signal to send and/or receivecommand, information, and/or instructions to devices such as stereos,televisions and set-top boxes. Information between the remote and thedevices may be transmitted by encoding the data using the IR signal.Modulations or changes in the IR signal intensity, frequency,wavelength, phase, and/or the like may be used to encode information.Receiving devices may monitor changes to the IR signal and decode thechanges in amplitude, frequency, intensity, and the like to determinetransmitted commands or information.

In some environments, the IR signal may be disrupted or affected byinfrared emissions from other devices. Display devices, such astelevisions and monitors, for example, may emit infrared energy. Theadditional infrared energy emitted by a display device may affect thedecoding of the IR signal.

Display devices may generate different IR emissions depending on thetype of display device, the activity on the display device, ambientconditions and/or the like. For some types of display devices the IRemissions may be broadband and may be continuously emitted by thedevice. For some types of display devices the IR emissions may beperiodic or manifest in temporary bursts. In some cases the emissionsmay occur only at specific times such as only when a display device iswarming up or displaying specific images and colors. IR emissions may bedifferent for each type of display or may depend on the backlighttechnology of the display. For example, a plasma television display maygenerate different IR emissions than a LED backlit television.

An IR remote control is often used to remotely send commands orinstructions to set-top boxes (STB) and television receivers. STBs maybe positioned near different displays that may generate IR emissionsthat may interfere with the IR remote control. A STB and remote may bepaired with many different models/types of display devices. Each displaydevice may emit a different IR interference pattern. The relativeposition of the IR emitting display device, the IR receiver, theorientation between the remote and the receiver may be different foreach set-top installation. An STB and the remote control must be able tocope with many different IR emission and interference characteristics.

In embodiments, the IR communication system may include methods,procedures, and modules for mitigating or reducing the effects of IRinterference due to IR emissions from display devices. Methods andsystems may be configured and/or adaptable to different emissionsources, orientations, positions of system components and displaydevices.

In some embodiments, the STB and the IR remote may include a calibrationand/or IR signal testing capability. The calibration and/or IR signaltesting capability may be used determine the characteristics of the IRemissions from the display devices. The calibration and/or the IR signaltesting capability may be used to determine the interferencecharacteristics caused by the display. In some embodiments, calibrationand testing may be automated. In some embodiments, calibration andtesting may require user input. Calibration and testing may includetransmitting IR signals from the remote to the STB in the presence of IRemissions from the display. Calibration and testing may includereceiving readings from sensors. Calibration and testing may be used toadjust the position of system components, adjust parameters of IRsignals, and/or adjust parameters of IR receivers to reduce the effectsof IR emissions.

Calibration and IR signal testing may be initiated by the user byinitiating a calibration and test option at the STB. During thecalibration phase a user may be prompted to press specific buttons onthe remote to transmit known commands or messages to the receiver. Theuser may be prompted with visual or audio indicators that may bedisplayed on the display device. The IR receiver may compare thereceived messages to the expected messages based on the user prompts anddetermine the error characteristics of the IR signal. The IR receivermay analyze the received message to determine the error rates, types oferrors (uni-directional, burst, etc.). Based on the errorcharacteristics the IR receiver may adjust filter parameters, decodingparameter, IR signal power output, and the like. After adjustments theuser may be prompted to push buttons or provide additional input todetermine if the message reliability has improved.

Calibration and IR signal testing may be initiated automatically by thesystem when received IR signals have high error rates. An automated testsequence may be transmitted automatically between system elementswithout requiring user input. The remote may store a sequence ofpre-determined test messages and commands. A user may be prompted toposition the remote in a typical use location and press or hold one ormore button on the remote to initiate transmission of the test sequence.The test messages sent from the remote control may be encoded usingdifferent error control codes, protocols and the like. The test messagesmay be configured to test the reliability and performance of eachsetting. An IR receiver may analyze the error characteristics of thetest messages and select an appropriate encoding and protocol. Anappropriate encoding may be an encoding that minimizes the error rate.In some cases, an appropriate encoding may be an encoding that providesadequate reliability at the lowest power level.

A remote control may be able to receive data via another communicationchannel or a “back channel”. The remote control may be coupled with anRF communication capability, may be connected via a wire or otherreliable back channel. The system may use the back channel to cause theremote to send messages automatically to the receiver without userinput, the user may be prompted to position the remote in a typical uselocation and aimed at the receiver. The back channel may be used toconfigure the remote with a test sequence and configure appropriateerror control, encoding, and protocol options.

During calibration and signal testing, a user may be provided withindications regarding the characteristics of the IR signal. A user maybe prompted to make adjustments to the position, orientation, and thelike of the television receiver relative to the display device to reducethe interference. During the calibration, real time performancecharacteristics of the IR signal may be presented to the user. The usermay be prompted to make position adjustments to components of thesystem. As the user makes the adjustments the effects of the adjustmentsmay be displayed on the display device or other indicators. In someembodiments, the characteristics of the interference patterns may beused to adjust the protocols used for transmission, the parameters ofamplifiers, and/or decoders and encoders used for transmitting andreceiving the IR signals.

Protocols and other characteristics of the IR signals may be adjustedbased on the performance (e.g. error rates) of the test messages. Thereceiver may select encoding based on codes related to the errorcharacteristics observed in the test messages. For example, if bursterrors are observed during the transmission or test messages encodingsbased on error control codes designed for burst errors may be selected.Encoding may include Reed Solomon codes, constant weight codes, Hammingcodes, replication codes, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the IR signaling protocol may be configured toretransmit the same command or information multiple times. If the IRemissions from a display device occur in bursts, for example, then it islikely that the noise will not affect all transmissions of the samecommand. The retransmission strategy including the number ofretransmissions, the timing of the retransmissions may be configuredbased on the characteristics of the IR emissions. The retransmissionstrategy may be selected such that the time required to transmit all ofthe copies of the same message is longer than the interference burst toavoid the interference affecting all of the copies of the same message.

An IR receiver may receive the multiple copies of the messages sent bythe remote control and compare or analyze the multiple copies todetermine the correct message. For example, the receiver may average themultiple messages or perform a voting or comparison operations.

Calibration and testing may include monitoring ambient or background IRemissions. IR receiver sensors may be used to measure IR emissions. Insome embodiments, dedicated sensors may be used to monitor ambient IRemissions from a display device. Measured characteristics of IRemissions from a display device may be used to adjust the protocols usedfor transmission, the parameters of amplifiers, and/or decoders andencoders used for transmitting and receiving the IR signals. Forexample, based on the frequency content of the background IR emissions,filters in the IR receiver may be adjusted to filter the noise contentfrom the received signal. In another example, the calibration and signaltesting may be used to determine the temporal characteristics of theemitted IR signals. The IR receiver may monitor the background IRemissions during the operation of the display device. The IR receivermay determine if the IR emissions are continuous, occurs in bursts, orare correlated with specific activity of the display device.

In some embodiments, IR emissions from a display device may havepredictable characteristics that may be correlated to the model and/ortype of the display device. A database of known display devices andtheir IR emission characteristics may be maintained at the televisionreceiver or a remote location such as at the service provider. Thedatabase may include IR configurations for each model or type of displaydevice that have been tested or determined to be appropriate.

A STB may automatically detect the display model and identify anappropriate IR configuration data for the display. Alternatively, a usermay be prompted to enter the display model. Based on the display modelthe appropriate configuration may be selected from the database. If theSTB does not have a preloaded configuration for the display model ortype the display, the STB may query the service provider or otherinternet resources for appropriate configurations. In some embodiments,the configurations may be determined based on the display type, size,backlight technology (i.e., florescent, light emitting diode (LED),etc.), manufacturer, and/or the like.

For some display devices, IR emissions from the display may becorrelated or related to the images displayed on the display and/or theactivity of the display. For example, for some display devices the IRemission may depend on the brightness of the display or the color of theimage shown on the display. An image with mostly white colors may, insome displays, correspond to higher IR emissions than an image withmostly black colors. Likewise, for some displays, rapidly changingcolors or screens may result in increased IR emissions.

Calibration may include an analysis and correlation of the IR emissionsand displayed images and/or display activity. A STB may include acalibration mode which includes a series of test image patterns or testvideo clips to display on the display device during calibration. Thetest patterns and/or the video clips may be designed to exercise orgenerate a wide range of outputs on the display device. The testpatterns and/or the video clips may be configured to cause different IRemissions from the display. The test patterns may include images withdifferent colors, hues, saturations, and the like. The video clips mayinclude rapidly changing images and slow changing images. The testpatterns and/or the motion video may be looped to continuously playduring the calibration operations. Test patterns and video clips may beadaptively generated during the calibration process based on sensorreadings. In some cases the set-top box may be able to adjust the TVdirectly via wireless, Ethernet, IR Blast, HDMI CEC, etc.

During the calibration operation, test patterns and/or motion video maybe shown on the display device. During this time, an IR receiver maymonitor the IR emissions of the display device. The sensor readings maybe correlated to the types or patterns, images, colors, video, and thelike displayed on the display device. The IR emission intensity,frequency, characteristics, and/or the like may be recorded for eachtest pattern, color, image, video clip, and/or the like. For example,during a portion of the calibration, a test pattern with changing colorsmay be displayed. During the display of the test pattern the intensity,magnitude, frequency, and other characteristics of the IR energy sensedat the receiver sensors may be captured and recorded for each of thecharacteristics of the test pattern.

After the sensor readings have been collected for different test images,video clips, and patterns, the readings may be analyzed to determinedisplay conditions that result in high IR emissions from the displaydevice. Occurrences of high IR emissions may be analyzed for specificcolors, images, display activity, and/or the like. In embodiments thetelevision receiver may analyze and establish thresholds or guidelinesas to the types of display activity, colors, or images that may generatehigh IR emissions that may be high enough to disrupt remote controlcommunications.

Test patterns and test video clips may be displayed by the displaydevice during transmission of IR signals from the remote control.Commands and information may be transmitted from the remote control tothe IR receiver using the IR channel. Errors and/or error patterns inthe received messages may be analyzed and correlated to the types ofimages, colors, video and/or the like that were being displayed on thedisplay device when the errors occurred. High error rates may berepresentative of high IR emissions from the display device. Thecharacteristics of the images and/or video which caused high errorsrates during transmission may be recorded.

In some embodiments, normal programming from one of the tuners may beshown on the display device during calibration. The characteristics ofthe images, video, and the like of the programming may be analyzedduring periods of high IR emissions detected at the IR receiver and/orduring periods of high error rates in messages sent from the remotecontrol. A tuner and/or processor in the television receiver may analyzethe characteristics of the images and video displayed. The tuner maydetermine correlations between image and video characteristics and IRemissions. A tuner and/or processor in the television receiver mayanalyze the characteristics of the images and video displayed anddetermine characteristics of the images and video that cause or maycause disruption to IR communication from the remote.

During normal operation of the system by a user, the image and videoprogramming accessed and viewed on the display device by the user may beanalyzed for characteristics that have been shown to be correlated withhigh IR emission or high error rates. The television receiver may useone or more inactive tuners to scan and analyze displayed programmingfor image and video characteristics and signal the IR receiver whencharacteristics that may result in high IR emissions or high error ratesare detected. The IR receiver may use the threshold or characteristicinformation to improve the reliability of the communication.

For example, in a data transfer protocol that involves retransmission ofthe same message three times in series, video characteristics may beused to determine which copy of the transmitted message is the mostlikely to be accurate or error free. During the transmission of thethree copies of the same message, the image and video characteristics ofthe images displayed on the display device may be analyzed. Thecharacteristics may be compared to the thresholds and characteristicsdetermined during the calibration phase to determine if the images ordisplay activity was correlated or similar to the characteristics thatresulted in high error rates or high IR emissions from the display. Thecopies of the message that were transmitted during the time for which anindication of high IR emissions was received may be discarded orprocessed differently by the IR receiver. If one of the messages wasreceived during display activity correlated with high IR emissions thecopy of the message may be ignored and the other messages used fordecoding.

In embodiments, display activity correlated to high IR emissions may beused by the IR receiver to adjust decoding operations. Decodingthresholds and error detection and/or correction algorithms may beadjusted. For messages that are transmitted during display activitycorrelated to high IR emissions, the decoding effort may be increased.In the case of multiple transmissions of the same message copy, thetiming of high IR emissions may be correlated to transmission of aspecific copy or bits of the message. The bits of the each copy that arelikely subject to corruption may be determined. The bits of a messagethat are likely corrupted may be compared to other copies to determine acorrect message.

In embodiments, the images and video from programming may be analyzed bythe STB prior to being displayed on the display device. The indicationof characteristics correlated to the high IR emissions may be generatedand provided to the IR receiver prior to the images being displayed. Insome embodiments, an indication of likely high IR emissions may begenerated milliseconds or even seconds before the corresponding imagesare displayed on the display device. The indication may be transmittedto the IR receiver and/or the remote. The IR receiver may proactivelyadjust the characteristics of decoding operations, demodulators,amplifiers and detectors according to the expected IR emissions. Forexample, the IR receiver gain can be reduced or adjusted prior to thepotential interference to prevent saturation from a strong interference.In another example, the magnitude of potential IR emissions may beestimated and may be to subtracted from a received signal prior todemodulation.

In some embodiments, an IR receiver may include multiple IR sensors,ambient light sensors, and/or the like. IR sensors may be positioned atdifferent orientations or locations on the television receiver. In someembodiments the sensors may be configured or configurable to receive andprocess messages from the remote control. Readings from the sensors maybe subtracted, added, or otherwise combined to generate one or morecombined sensor outputs. The sensor readings may be combined to reduceinterference noise, for example. In some embodiments the sensor with thelowest noise component may be selected and used for receiving anddecoding the signal. The IR receiver may periodically or continuouslymonitor the IR emissions and interference on each sensor and select asensor with the lowest noise as the primary sensor from which thereadings are processed and decoded.

In some embodiments, the sensitivity, signal filtering, and the like maybe the same or different for each sensor. The sensor may bestrategically positioned at different angles, or locations of thetelevision receiver to reduce the impact of the IR emissions from thedisplay device. Some sensors may be configured and positioned toprimarily sense the ambient IR emissions. The sensors may be used toadjust the decoding and signal processing circuitry of other sensorsbased on the recorded emissions.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an IR communication system 100 fortransmitting information and command from a remote control 102 to areceiver 104 that may be integrated into a satellite televisionreceiver. The remote control 102 may transmit signals using an IRtransmitter 110. The transmitter may be IR diode or other IR emitter.The signals for IR transmission may be generated by encoding circuitry108 which may encode commands and messages to be transmitted using an IRsignal 122. The encoding circuitry may include analog circuitry and/ordigital circuitry and may include amplifiers, converters, modulators,and/or the like. The encoding of information by the encoding circuitry108 may be controlled or governed by configuration data 120.Configuration data may include rules and preferences for encoding theinformation, power output of the IR transmitter, protocol requirements,and/or the like. The configuration data 120 may include variousalternative configurations for configuring the IR transmitter and/or theencoding circuitry. The configuration data may be manually orautomatically selected from the various configurations. In someembodiments a configuration may be selected by a user or operator of theremote. In other embodiments a configuration may be automaticallyselected based on received information. Additional information may bereceived from sensors 106 such as ambient light sensors, IR sensors, orother sensors. Based on the information received from the sensors aconfiguration may be selected. In some embodiments the remote 102 mayinclude additional communication channels for receiving additionalinformation which may be used to select a configuration, update aconfiguration and/or the like. The additional communication channel maybe an IR data channel, radio frequency data channel, or even a wireddata channel. The IR data channel may, for example be bidirectional.

A bidirectional IR data channel may, for example, be configured to be anecho channel. A system with a bidirectional IR channel may be configuredto receive IR messages from a remote and retransmit the message back tothe remote (echo the message). The received echo may be compared to thetransmitted message and if the echo does match the original message, theremote 102 may be configured to resend the message to the receiver 104.

The receiver 104 may be configured to receive and/or transmit IR signalsto and from the remote 102. The receiver may include an IR sensor 112such as an photodiode or the like. The IR sensor 112 may generateelectrical signals that are related to the IR energy received by thesensor. The electrical signals may be analyzed and processed by theprocessing circuitry 114 which may include analog and/or digitalcircuitry and include filters, demodulators, gain control circuitry,and/or the like. The output of the processing circuitry 114 may be usedby the decoding circuitry 118 to decode the message, perform errorcorrection, and relay the message to appropriate elements of atelevision receiver. The decoding of information by the processingcircuitry 114 and decoding circuitry 118 may be controlled or governedby configuration data 124. Configuration data 124 may include rules andpreferences for decoding the information, filter settings of theprocessing circuitry, protocol requirements, and/or the like. Theconfiguration data 124 may include various alternative configurationsfor configuring the IR transmitter and/or the encoding circuitry. Theconfiguration data may be manually or automatically selected from thevarious configurations. In some embodiments a configuration may beselected by a user or operator. In other embodiments a configuration maybe automatically selected based on received information. Additionalinformation may be received from sensors 116 such as ambient lightsensors, IR sensors, or other sensors.

The IR communication system 100 may be part of a satellite basedtelevision system. An embodiment of a satellite distribution system isillustrated in FIG. 2. Satellite television distribution system 200 mayinclude: television service provider system 210, satellite transmitterequipment 220, satellites 230, satellite dish 240, television receiver250, and display device 260. Alternate embodiments of satellitetelevision distribution system 200 may include fewer or greater numbersof components. While only one satellite dish 240, television receiver250, and display device 260 (collectively referred to as “userequipment”) are illustrated, it should be understood that multiple(e.g., tens, thousands, millions) instances of user equipment mayreceive television signals from television service provider system 210via satellites 230.

Television service provider system 210 and satellite transmitterequipment 220 may be operated by a television service provider. Atelevision service provider may distribute television channels,on-demand programming, programming information, and/or othercontent/services to users. Television service provider system 210 mayreceive feeds of one or more television channels from various sources.To distribute television channels for presentation to users, feeds ofthe television channels may be relayed to user equipment via multipletelevision distribution satellites. Each satellite may relay multipletransponder streams. Satellite transmitter equipment 220 (220-1, 220-2)may be used to transmit a feed of one or more television channels fromtelevision service provider system 210 to one or more satellites 230.

Satellites 230 may be configured to receive signals, such as streams oftelevision channels, from one or more satellite uplinks such assatellite transmitter equipment 220. Satellites 230 may relay receivedsignals from satellite transmitter equipment 220 (and/or other satellitetransmitter equipment) to multiple instances of user equipment viatransponder streams.

Satellite dish 240 may be a piece of user equipment that is used toreceive transponder streams from one or more satellites, such assatellites 230. Satellite dish 240 may be provided to a subscriber foruse on a subscription basis to receive television channels provided bythe television service provider system 210, satellite transmitterequipment 220, and/or satellites 230.

In communication with satellite dish 240 may be one or more televisionreceivers. Television receivers may be configured to decode signalsreceived from satellites 230 via satellite dish 240 for output andpresentation via a display device, such as display device 260. Atelevision receiver may be incorporated as part of a television or maybe part of a separate device, commonly referred to as a set-top box(STB). Television receiver 250 may decode signals received via satellitedish 240 and provide an output to display device 260. FIG. 3 providesadditional detail of various embodiments of a television receiver. Atelevision receiver is defined to include set-top boxes (STBs) and alsocircuitry having similar functionality that may be incorporated withanother device. For instance, circuitry similar to that of a televisionreceiver may be incorporated as part of a television. As such, whileFIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of television receiver 250 as separatefrom display device 260, it should be understood that, in otherembodiments, similar functions may be performed by a television receiverintegrated with display device 260.

Network 290 may serve as a secondary communication channel betweentelevision service provider system 210 and television receiver 250.However, in many instances, television receiver 250 may be disconnectedfrom network 290 (for reasons such as because television receiver 250 isnot configured to connect to network 290 or a subscriber does not desireor cannot connect to network 290). Via such a secondary communicationchannel, bidirectional exchange of data may occur. As such, data may betransmitted to television service provider system 210 from televisionreceiver 250 via network 290. Data may also be transmitted fromtelevision service provider system 210 to television receiver 250 vianetwork 290. Network 290 may be the Internet. While audio and videoservices may be provided to television receiver 250 via satellites 230,feedback from television receiver 250 to television service providersystem 210 may be transmitted via network 290.

The television receiver 250 may be controlled by a remote control 291.The remote control may send command to the television receiver using IRsignaling. The remote control 291 may include an IR transmitter 102. Thetelevision receiver may include an IR receiver and analyzer 211. The IRreceiver and analyzer may include the IR receiver 104 components. Theremote control 102 may be used to send commands or messages to thetelevision receiver. Commands and messages may include commands tochange channel, navigate menus, configuration information, and the like.

Display device 260 may be used to present video and/or audio decoded andoutput by television receiver 250. Television receiver 250 may alsooutput a display of one or more interfaces to display device 260, suchas an electronic programming guide (EPG). In many embodiments, displaydevice 260 is a television. Display device 260 may also be a monitor,computer, or some other device configured to display video and,possibly, play audio.

The display device may generate IR emissions and disrupt the IRcommunication between the remote control and the television receiver. Inembodiments, the IR receiver and analyzer 211 may detect the type ofdisplay and/or monitor the IR emissions from the display. Based on thedisplay type and/or detected IR emissions the configurations of the IRreceiver and analyzer 211 may be adjusted or changed. In someembodiments, the IR monitoring data may be transmitted to the serviceprovider 210 via a network 290 for analysis or storage for lateranalysis in the IR interference database 292. The database 292 mayinclude IR transmitter and receiver configurations that may bedownloaded by the television receiver and used to configure the remotecontrol and/or the IR receiver for a specific television model or type.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of television receiver 300. Televisionreceiver 300 may be configured to monitor and diagnose programmingstreams disruptions and output notifications. Television receiver 300may be in the form of a separate device configured to be connected witha display device, such as a television. Embodiments of televisionreceiver 300 can include set top boxes (STBs). As previously noted, inaddition to being in the form of an STB, a television receiver may beincorporated as part of another device, such as a television or otherform of display device. For example, a television may have an integratedtelevision receiver (which does not involve an external STB beingcoupled with the television).

Television receiver 300 may represent television receiver 250 of FIG. 2and may be in the form of an STB that outputs video and/or audio to adisplay device, such as a television. Television receiver 300 may beincorporated as part of a television, such as display device 260 of FIG.2. Television receiver 300 may include: processors 310 (which mayinclude control processor 310-1, tuning management processor 310-2, andpossibly additional processors), tuners 315, network interface 320,non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 325, electronicprogramming guide (EPG) database 330, television interface 335, userinterface 350, smartcard 360, and/or descrambling engine 365. In otherembodiments of television receiver 300, fewer or greater numbers ofcomponents may be present. It should be understood that the variouscomponents of television receiver 300 may be implemented using hardware,firmware, software, and/or some combination thereof. Functionality ofcomponents may be combined; for example, functions of descramblingengine 365 may be performed by tuning management processor 310-2.

Processors 310 may include one or more specialized and/orgeneral-purpose processors configured to perform processes such astuning to a particular channel, accessing and displaying EPG informationfrom EPG database 330, and/or receiving and processing input from auser. For example, processors 310 may include one or more processorsdedicated to decoding video signals from a particular format, such asMPEG, for output and display on a television and for performingdecryption. It should be understood that the functions performed byvarious modules of FIG. 3 may be performed using one or more processors.As such, for example, functions of descrambling engine 365 may beperformed by control processor 310-1.

Control processor 310-1 may communicate with tuning management processor310-2. Control processor 310-1 may control the recording of televisionchannels based on timers. Control processor 310-1 may also providecommands to tuning management processor 310-2 when recording of atelevision channel is to cease. In addition to providing commandsrelating to the recording of television channels, control processor310-1 may provide commands to tuning management processor 310-2 thatindicate television channels to be output to decoder module 333 foroutput to a display device. Control processor 310-1 may also communicatewith network interface 320 and user interface 350. Control processor310-1 may handle incoming data from network interface 320 and userinterface 350. Additionally, control processor 310-1 may be configuredto output data via network interface 320.

Control processor 310-1 may include an interface analysis engine 311.Embodiments of a programming disruption analysis engine 311 aredescribed in relation to FIG. 4. The interface analysis engine may beconfigured to analyze programming streams, or images being displayed onthe display devices. The programming streams may be analyzed forthresholds and characteristics correlated with high IR emissions. Insome embodiments, programming may include characteristic data.Characteristics of the programming stream may be is inserted into thetransport stream as metadata. The disruption analysis engine 311 may usethe metadata to predict high IR emissions from the display.

Tuners 315 may include one or more tuners used to tune to transpondersthat include broadcasts of one or more programming streams or televisionchannels. In the illustrated embodiment of television receiver 300,three tuners are present (tuner 315-1, tuner 315-2, and tuner 315-3). Inother embodiments, two or more than three tuners may be present, such asfour, six, or eight tuners. Each tuner contained in tuners 315 may becapable of receiving and processing a single transponder stream from asatellite transponder at a given time. As such, a single tuner may tuneto a single transponder stream at a given time. If tuners 315 includemultiple tuners, one tuner may be used to tune to a television channelon a first transponder stream for display using a television, whileanother tuner may be used to tune to a television channel on a secondtransponder for recording and viewing at some other time. If multipletelevision channels transmitted on the same transponder stream aredesired, a single tuner of tuners 315 may be used to receive the signalcontaining the multiple television channels for presentation and/orrecording. Tuners 315 may receive commands from tuning managementprocessor 310-2. Such commands may instruct tuners 315 which frequenciesare to be tuned to.

In embodiments, tuners 315 that are not used by a user to viewprogramming may be used to analyze the programming stream for thresholdand characteristics that have been correlated to high IR field emissionsfrom the display device. Free tuners may be used to analyze programmingcontent in parallel with tuners that may be used to process programmingstreams for the display device.

Network interface 320 may be used to communicate via an alternatecommunication channel with a television service provider, if suchcommunication channel is available. The primary communication channelmay be via satellite (which may be unidirectional to television receiver300) and the alternate communication channel (which may bebidirectional) may be via a network, such as the Internet. Referringback to FIG. 2, television receiver 250 may be able to communicate withtelevision service provider system 210 via a network, such as theInternet. This communication may be bidirectional: data may betransmitted from television receiver 250 to television service providersystem 210 and from television service provider system 210 to televisionreceiver 250. Referring back to FIG. 3, network interface 320 may beconfigured to communicate via one or more networks, such as theInternet, to communicate with television service provider system 210 ofFIG. 2. Information may be transmitted and/or received via networkinterface 320. For instance, instructions (e.g., regarding subscriptionportability) from a television service provider may also be received vianetwork interface 320, if connected with the Internet. Network interface320 may be used to provide a confirmation to a television serviceprovider that instructions received from the television service providerhave indeed been executed.

The network interface 320 may be used by the receiver to transfer IRcalibration data to the service provider. The network interface 320 maybe used to receive configurations for the IR receiver and remote controlfrom the service provider for the display device model or type that isconnected to the television receiver.

Storage medium 325 may represent one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage mediums. Storage medium 325 may include memoryand/or a hard drive. Storage medium 325 may be used to store informationreceived from one or more satellites and/or information received vianetwork interface 320. Storage medium 325 may store information relatedto EPG database 330, other non-video/audio data 331, and/or IRconfigurations 327.

The IR configurations 327 stored in the storage medium 325 may includeconfiguration data and settings for different display device types, forexample. The IR configurations 327 may include IR sensor data capturedduring diagnostics phase which may be transferred to the serviceprovider or analyzed by the television receiver to determine newconfigurations and settings for the IR receiver.

While a large portion of storage space of storage medium 325 is devotedto storage of television programming, a portion may be devoted tostorage of non-audio/video data, such as EPG database 330 and othernon-video/audio data 331. The storage medium may include IRconfiguration data 347 that may include different settings for the IRcommunication system.

Decoder module 333 may serve to convert encoded video and audio into aformat suitable for output to a display device. For instance, Decodermodule 333 may receive MPEG video and audio from storage medium 325 ordescrambling engine 365 to be output to a television. Decoder module 333may convert the MPEG video and audio into a format appropriate to bedisplayed by a television or other form of display device and audio intoa format appropriate to be output from speakers, respectively.

Television interface 335 may serve to output a signal to a television(or another form of display device) in a proper format for display ofvideo and playback of audio. As such, television interface 335 mayoutput one or more television channels, stored television programmingfrom storage medium 325 (e.g., television programs from storage medium325, to a television for presentation.

User interface 350 may include a remote control (physically separatefrom television receiver 300) and/or one or more buttons on televisionreceiver 300 that allow a user to interact with television receiver 300.User interface 350 may be used to select a television channel forviewing, view information from EPG database 330, and/or program a timerstored to the storage medium 325.

Tuning management processor 310-2 may be in communication with tuners315 and control processor 310-1. Tuning management processor 310-2 maybe configured to receive commands from control processor 310-1. Suchcommands may indicate when to start/stop recording a television channeland/or when to start/stop causing a television channel to be output to atelevision. Tuning management processor 310-2 may control tuners 315.Tuning management processor 310-2 may provide commands to tuners 315that instruct the tuners which satellite, transponder, and/or frequencyto tune to. From tuners 315, tuning management processor 310-2 mayreceive transponder streams of packetized data.

Descrambling engine 365 may use the control words output by smartcard360 in order to descramble video and/or audio corresponding totelevision channels for storage and/or presentation. Video and/or audiodata contained in the transponder data stream received by tuners 315 maybe scrambled. Video and/or audio data may be descrambled by descramblingengine 365 using a particular control word. Which control word output bysmartcard 360 to be used for successful descrambling may be indicated bya scramble control identifier present within the data packet containingthe scrambled video or audio. Descrambled video and/or audio may beoutput by descrambling engine 365 to storage medium 325 for storage.

For simplicity, television receiver 300 of FIG. 3 has been reduced to ablock diagram; commonly known parts, such as a power supply, have beenomitted. Further, some routing between the various modules of televisionreceiver 300 has been illustrated. Such illustrations are for exemplarypurposes only. The state of two modules not being directly or indirectlyconnected does not indicate the modules cannot communicate. Rather,connections between modules of the television receiver 300 are intendedonly to indicate possible common data routing. It should be understoodthat the modules of television receiver 300 may be combined into a fewernumber of modules or divided into a greater number of modules. Further,the components of television receiver 300 may be part of another device,such as built into a television. Television receiver 300 may include oneor more instances of various computerized components, such as disclosedin relation to computer system 800 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a method 400 for determining IRsignal characteristics. Method 400 may be performed using the systemspreviously described. For instance, IR communication system 100,satellite television distribution system 200, television receiver 300,FIGS. 1-3, respectively, may be used to perform method 400 Components ofsuch systems may be implemented using hardware, software, and/orfirmware. Further, the performance of method 400 may include one or moreinstances of the components of computer system 800 of FIG. 8.

At step 402, a calibration mode may be initiated. The calibration modemay be initiated by a user. In some embodiments the calibration mode maybe initiated when IR signaling becomes unreliable, when a new displaydevice is detected, or may be periodically initiated according to acalibration schedule. The initiation of the calibration mode may causeuser prompts to be generated to perform the calibration. The user may beprompted to position the IR remote in its normal working position andorient it towards the STB. The user may be prompted to press one or morebuttons on the remote according to the instructions. During thecalibration mode, each button press by the user may cause an IR signalto be transmitted to the STB using different IR signal characteristics.One or more commands may be sent from the remote control to the STBusing different encoding methods, power levels, signaling schemes,and/or the like. In embodiments, a set of predefined commands or testmessages may be sent. In step 404, the IR receiver may receive the IRsignals from the remote. During the calibration process, the IR receivermay also adjust its operating characteristics. The IR receiver mayadjust its sensitivity, receiving frequency, filter settings, and/orother parameters. The transmission of the IR test signals from theremote to the IR receiver may be performed while the display device isshowing images, test patters, or video clips. The images, test patterns,or video clips may be configured to stimulate IR emissions from thedisplay device.

At step 406 the received IR signal may be analyzed. The received IRsignals may be compared with the expected set of test messages. Theerror rates and distortions for the signals may be analyzed in step 408.The error rates and distortions to the IR signals may be determined foreach different IR signal strength, frequency, and other characteristicsadjusted during the sending of the IR test signals.

At step 410, the STB may determine IR characteristics that provide asuitable and reliable IR signaling between the remote control and theSTB in the presence of IR emissions from the display device. In someembodiments IR characteristics are chosen that provide reliablesignaling at the minimal power level. Power level or intensity of the IRsignal may be proportional to the energy required generate the signal.Higher power levels may mean shorter battery lives of the remotecontrol. Likewise, more complex encoding methods that include errorcontrol coding may require additional computations that may consumepower from the remote control. In embodiments, the STB may evaluate theerror rates and energy used to transmit IR signals using the differentIR characteristics. The STB may select the IR characteristics thatprovide suitable error rates but have the lowest energy requirements atthe remote control. In some embodiments the minimum power level forreliable IR signaling may be determined and an extra margin of 10% ormore may be added to ensure reliable operation.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method 500 for determining burstsof IR emissions. Method 500 may be performed using the systemspreviously described. For instance, IR communication system 100,satellite television distribution system 200, television receiver 300,FIGS. 1-3, respectively, may be used to perform method 500. Componentsof such systems may be implemented using hardware, software, and/orfirmware. Further, the performance of method 500 may include one or moreinstances of the components of computer system 800 of FIG. 8.

At step 502 the IR emissions from the display device may be monitored.IR sensors at the STB or positioned near the display device may monitorthe IR emissions. At step 504 the STB may identify periods of time withbursts of IR emissions or IR emission levels that may disrupt IRsignaling from the remote control to the STB. At step 506 the STB mayreceive IR signals from the remote control. The IR signals may beencoded or based on a repetition protocol in which one message istransmitted two or more times in succession. At step 508, the timing ofthe IR emission bursts and the timing of the received signals may becorrelated to determine which IR signals may have been corrupted by theIR emissions. In step 510 the IR signals that coincided with themeasured IR emissions may be discarded. In the case where the IRsignaling protocol includes sending multiple copies of the same message,STB may discard the messages that coincided with IR emissions andprocess the unaffected copies of the messages. When alternative copiesof a message are not available the STB may be configured to ignore IRsignals that coincide with high IR emissions.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method 600 for determining IRconfigurations for a display device. Method 600 may be performed usingthe systems previously described. For instance, IR communication system100, satellite television distribution system 200, television receiver300, FIGS. 1-3, respectively, may be used to perform method 600Components of such systems may be implemented using hardware, software,and/or firmware. Further, the performance of method 600 may include oneor more instances of the components of computer system 800 of FIG. 8.

At step 602, a calibration mode may initiated. The calibration mode maybe initiated by a user or automatically initiated by the system. Oncethe calibration mode is initiated, the STB may transmit to the displaydevice a series of test images, patters, or video. The test patterns maybe designed to exercise the display with different images of patternsthat may generate high IR emissions from the display. The test patternsmay include different colors, hues, brightness, motion, and/or the like.The test patterns may be stored in the storage medium of the receiver.In some cases different test patterns may be used for different types ordisplay devices. The test patterns may be designed to generate the worstcase IR emission from the display device. In step 606, the IR emissioncharacteristics of the display may be measured during the time when thetest patterns are displayed. The IR emissions may be measured by the IRreceiver and/or other IR sensors that may be attached or remote to theSTB.

At step 608, the IR emission data may be analyzed to determine IRemission characteristics. Characteristics such as the duration of the IRemissions, the frequency, and intensity may influence the parameters ofthe IR signal encoding or power levels that are used. Based at least inpart on the IR emission characteristics the IR configuration data may beselected at step 610. The IR configuration data may include encodinginformation, power levels, IR receiver configuration, and/or the like.The IR configuration may be loaded from a database of configurationsstored on the STB. In some embodiments configurations that match theemission characteristics may be downloaded or received from a serviceprovider. At step 612, the IR configuration may be initiated by the STB.Decoding methods, IR sensitivity, filter settings may be adjusted basedon the configuration.

In embodiments, interference mitigation methods and systems may includemechanical means for shielding an IR receiver and/or means for focusingIR signals. In embodiments mechanical means may include one or moremechanical shields, lenses, apertures, and the like to shield thereceiver sensor from the display device emissions. Shields, bezels, andthe like may be configurable to shield the IR sensor of a televisionreceiver from the IR signal emitted from a television. The bezel aroundthe sensor, for example may be movable or rotatable to adjust the bezeland/or shield relative to the position and orientation of the displaydevice causing the interference.

FIGS. 7A-7C depict embodiments of a sensor with a sliding shield orfilter. An IR sensor 704 that may be attached or coupled to an STB. TheIR sensor 704 may be mounted in a housing 702. The housing 702 mayinclude a sliding filter 706. The sliding filter 706 may be configuredto shield the IR sensor 704 from unwanted IR signals. The sliding filter706 may be of a material that attenuates IR signals. Opaque plastics,metals, and other materials may be used for the filter 706. The slidingfilter 706 may be movable along the housing 702. The sliding filter 706may be configured to be positioned to block the IR sensor 704 from IRsignals from one direction while allowing the IR sensor 704 to receiveIR signals from another direction. FIG. 7A depicts a configuration wherethe sliding filter 706 is positioned on the side of the housing 702 suchthat the filter does not interfere with the IR sensor 704. FIG. 7Bdepicts a configuration where the sliding filter 706 is configured topartially block the IR sensor 704. The sliding filter 706 is positionedto cover the right side of the IR sensor 704 thereby preventingreception or IR signals from the right side of the sensor 704. Thesliding filter 706 may be positioned in this configuration to blocksignals that may originate from a display that may be located to theright of the sensor 704. FIG. 7C depicts a configuration where thesliding filter 706 is configured to partially block the left side of theIR sensor 704. The sliding filter 706 is positioned to cover the leftside of the IR sensor 704 thereby preventing reception or IR signalsfrom the left side of the sensor 704.

FIGS. 7D-7E depict embodiments of a sensor with a rotating shield orfilter. A rotating filter 712 may be configured to shield the IR sensor710 from unwanted IR signals. The rotating filter 712 may be of amaterial that attenuates IR signals. The rotating filter 712 may berotated around the IR sensor 710 to block the IR sensor 710 from IRsignals from one direction while allowing the IR sensor 710 to receiveIR signals from another direction. FIG. 7D depicts a configuration wherethe rotating filter 712 is rotated around the sensor to shield the IRsensor 710 from IR signals from the right side of the sensor 710. FIG.7E depicts a configuration where the rotating filter 712 is rotatedaround the sensor to shield the IR sensor 710 from IR signals from thetop of the sensor 710.

FIGS. 8A-8D depicts an embodiments of an IR sensor with an adjustabledirectivity. An IR sensor 804 may include a directivity 802 component.The directivity component 802 may be used to direct or focus the inputof the sensor to a specific location or side of the sensor. Thedirectivity component 802 may be a movable lens, a light guide, afocusing mirror or the like that may guide IR signals to the IR sensor804 preferentially from one or more directions. The directivitycomponent 802 may be movable around the sensor 804 and may be positionedto preferentially guide IR signals from a remote and attenuate IRsignals from a display. For example the directivity component 802 may bepositioned UP as in FIG. 8A to receive remote IR signals from above thesensor 804. The directivity component 802 may be positioned in thecenter as in FIG. 8B to receive remote IR signals from in front of thesensor 804. The directivity component 802 may be positioned to the leftor right as in FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D respectively.

The sliding and rotating filters and the directivity components of FIGS.7 and 8 may be adjustable by a user. Based on the relative configurationof the display, the remote control, and the IR sensors, the position ofthe filters and directivity components may be moved to partially coverone side of the IR sensor or direct the sensor toward the remotecontrol. In some embodiments, the user may initiate a calibrationroutine which may include indicators as to the interference received bythe IR sensors or error rates during data transmission from a remote. Auser may reposition the filters and directivity components during thecalibration and observe the effects of the position on the IRinterference and/or error rates.

FIG. 9 depicts a configuration with multiple IR sensors 908, 910, 912,914 on a STB 906. Multiple IR sensors may improve the capture of thedesired IR signal by receiving IR signals from multiple paths. In manyuser configurations the IR remote signal path may be indirect ascustomers may point the remote at the TV rather than the STB. In someconfigurations the path may be dependent on the location of the userwithin the room. Multiple sensors may receive signals from multiplepaths. IR signals may reflect or bounce from surfaces such as walls andfurniture in a room 902. IR signals from a display device 904 may takedifferent paths than signals from a remote 916. The differences in pathsmay manifest in different reception characteristics at the sensors 908,910, 912, 914. Sensor reading may be analyzed to identify signals fromthe remote. In some cases signals from different sensors may be combinedto improve signal reception.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that methods and designsdescribed herein focused on the communication between a remote and anSTB, the techniques and designs described are applicable to otherdevices that utilize IR signaling. Devices such as televisions, stereos,appliances, and the like may utilize or adapt the described techniquesand designs.

A computer system as illustrated in FIG. 10 may be incorporated as partof the previously described computerized devices, such as the describedtelevision receivers and television distribution system. FIG. 10provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system1000 that can perform various steps of the methods provided by variousembodiments. It should be noted that FIG. 10 is meant only to provide ageneralized illustration of various components, any or all of which maybe utilized as appropriate. FIG. 10, therefore, broadly illustrates howindividual system elements may be implemented in a relatively separatedor relatively more integrated manner.

The computer system 1000 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 1005 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 1010, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, video decoders, and/or the like); one or more input devices1015, which can include without limitation a mouse, a keyboard, remotecontrol, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 1020, which caninclude without limitation a display device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer system 1000 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 1025, which cancomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or can include, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a randomaccess memory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer system 1000 might also include a communications subsystem1030, which can include without limitation a modem, a network card(wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device, and/or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationdevice, etc.), and/or the like. The communications subsystem 1030 maypermit data to be exchanged with a network (such as the networkdescribed below, to name one example), other computer systems, and/orany other devices described herein. In many embodiments, the computersystem 1000 will further comprise a working memory 1035, which caninclude a RAM or ROM device, as described above.

The computer system 1000 also can comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 1035, including anoperating system 1040, device drivers, executable libraries, and/orother code, such as one or more application programs 1045, which maycomprise computer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or maybe designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as thenon-transitory storage device(s) 1025 described above. In some cases,the storage medium might be incorporated within a computer system, suchas computer system 1000. In other embodiments, the storage medium mightbe separate from a computer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as acompact disc), and/or provided in an installation package, such that thestorage medium can be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a generalpurpose computer with the instructions/code stored thereon. Theseinstructions might take the form of executable code, which is executableby the computer system 1000 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thecomputer system 1000 (e.g., using any of a variety of generallyavailable compilers, installation programs, compression/decompressionutilities, etc.), then takes the form of executable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer system (such as the computer system 1000) to perform methods inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. According to a setof embodiments, some or all of the procedures of such methods areperformed by the computer system 1000 in response to processor 1010executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which mightbe incorporated into the operating system 1040 and/or other code, suchas an application program 1045) contained in the working memory 1035.Such instructions may be read into the working memory 1035 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as one or more of the non-transitorystorage device(s) 1025. Merely by way of example, execution of thesequences of instructions contained in the working memory 1035 mightcause the processor(s) 1010 to perform one or more procedures of themethods described herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium,” “computer-readable storage medium”and “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, refer to any medium thatparticipates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in aspecific fashion. These mediums may be non-transitory. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer system 1000, various computer-readablemedia might be involved in providing instructions/code to processor(s)1010 for execution and/or might be used to store and/or carry suchinstructions/code. In many implementations, a computer-readable mediumis a physical and/or tangible storage medium. Such a medium may take theform of a non-volatile media or volatile media. Non-volatile mediainclude, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thenon-transitory storage device(s) 1025. Volatile media include, withoutlimitation, dynamic memory, such as the working memory 1035.

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, any other physical medium with patterns of marks, a RAM, a PROM,EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 1010for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer system 1000.

The communications subsystem 1030 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive signals, and the bus 1005 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 1035, from which the processor(s) 1010 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 1035 may optionally be stored on a non-transitory storage device1025 either before or after execution by the processor(s) 1010.

It should further be understood that the components of computer system1000 can be distributed across a network. For example, some processingmay be performed in one location using a first processor while otherprocessing may be performed by another processor remote from the firstprocessor. Other components of computer system 1000 may be similarlydistributed. As such, computer system 1000 may be interpreted as adistributed computing system that performs processing in multiplelocations. In some instances, computer system 1000 may be interpreted asa single computing device, such as a distinct laptop, desktop computer,or the like, depending on the context.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods may be performed in an order different from that described,and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enablingdescription for implementing described techniques. Various changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps notincluded in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform the described tasks.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications,alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departingfrom the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements maybe components of a larger system, wherein other rules may takeprecedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered.

What is claimed:
 1. A television receiver to mitigate IR interferencefrom a display device, the television receiver comprising: one or moreprocessors; a non-transitory memory communicatively coupled with andreadable by the one or more processors and having stored thereinprocessor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to: initiate a calibrationmode; cause a series of images of video content to be displayed on adisplay device, the series of images to induce infrared (IR) emissionsfrom the display device; process a measurement of IR emissions duringdisplay of the series of images; determine IR emission characteristicsof the measurement of IR emissions; determine an IR configuration basedat least in part based on the IR emission characteristics, the IRconfiguration comprising settings for IR signaling to mitigateinterference from the IR emissions; and initiate the IR configuration toaccount for incoming programming content to be displayed on the displaydevice with images and/or video characteristics corresponding to theseries of images that were determined to cause the IR emissioncharacteristics that cause interference with received IR commandsignals.
 2. The television receiver to mitigate IR interference from adisplay device as recited in claim 1, wherein the series of imagescorresponds to a video clip, and the measurement of the IR emissionscorresponds to measuring during the display of the video clip.
 3. Thetelevision receiver to mitigate IR interference from a display device asrecited in claim 2, wherein the series of images comprises rapidlychanging images and slowly changing images.
 4. The television receiverto mitigate IR interference from a display device as recited in claim 2,wherein the television receiver adaptively generates the video clipduring calibration operations based on sensor readings.
 5. Thetelevision receiver to mitigate IR interference from a display device asrecited in claim 2, wherein the series of images corresponds toprogramming content comprising the video content received by a tuner ofthe television receiver and displayed on the display device, and themeasurement of the IR emissions corresponds to measuring during thedisplay of the video content.
 6. The television receiver to mitigate IRinterference from a display device as recited in claim 1, wherein thetelevision receiver is further caused to: monitor for error rates onreceived IR signals from an IR remote control; and when the monitorederror rates are determined to satisfy a threshold, automaticallyinitiate the calibration mode.
 7. The television receiver to mitigate IRinterference from a display device as recited in claim 6, wherein thetelevision receiver is further caused to: receive IR signals during thecalibration mode, the IR signals processed according to the IRconfiguration; determine an error rate of the IR signals; and adjust theIR configuration to reduce the error rate.
 8. A non-transitory,processor-readable medium comprising processor-readable instructions tomitigate IR interference from a display device, which processor-readableinstructions, when executed by one or more processors of a receiverdevice, cause the receiver device to: initiate a calibration mode; causea series of images of video content to be displayed on a display device,the series of images to induce infrared (IR) emissions from the displaydevice; measure IR emissions during display of the series of images;determine IR emission characteristics of the measured IR emissions;determine an IR configuration based at least in part based on the IRemission characteristics, the IR configuration comprising settings forIR signaling to mitigate interference from the IR emissions; andinitiate the IR configuration to account for incoming programmingcontent to be displayed on the display device with images and/or videocharacteristics corresponding to the series of images that weredetermined to cause the IR emission characteristics that causeinterference with received IR command signals.
 9. The non-transitory,processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the series ofimages corresponds to a video clip, and the measuring the IR emissionscorresponds to measuring during the display of the video clip.
 10. Thenon-transitory, processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, whereinthe series of images comprises rapidly changing images and slowlychanging images.
 11. The non-transitory, processor-readable medium asrecited in claim 9, wherein the receiver device adaptively generates thevideo clip during calibration operations based on sensor readings. 12.The non-transitory, processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9,wherein the series of images corresponds to programming contentcomprising the video content received by a tuner of the receiver deviceand displayed on the display device, and the measuring the IR emissionscorresponds to measuring during the display of the video content. 13.The non-transitory, processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8,wherein the receiver device is further caused to: monitor for errorrates on received IR signals from an IR remote control; and when themonitored error rates are determined to satisfy a threshold,automatically initiate the calibration mode.
 14. The non-transitory,processor-readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the receiverdevice is further caused to: receive IR signals during the calibrationmode, the IR signals processed according to the IR configuration;determine an error rate of the IR signals; and adjust the IRconfiguration to reduce the error rate.
 15. A method to mitigate IRinterference from a display device, the method comprising: initiating acalibration mode at a particular time or in response to a detectedcondition; causing a series of images of video content to be displayedon a display device, the series of images to induce infrared (IR)emissions from the display device; measuring IR emissions during displayof the series of images; determining IR emission characteristics of themeasured IR emissions; determining an IR configuration based at least inpart based on the IR emission characteristics, the IR configurationcomprising settings for IR signaling to mitigate interference from theIR emissions; and initiating the IR configuration to account forincoming programming content to be displayed on the display device withimages and/or video characteristics corresponding to the series ofimages that were determined to cause the IR emission characteristicsthat cause interference with received IR command signals.
 16. The methodto mitigate IR interference from a display device as recited in claim15, wherein the series of images corresponds to a video clip, and themeasuring the IR emissions corresponds to measuring during the displayof the video clip.
 17. The method to mitigate IR interference from adisplay device as recited in claim 16, wherein the series of imagescomprises rapidly changing images and slowly changing images.
 18. Themethod to mitigate IR interference from a display device as recited inclaim 16, the method further comprising adaptively generates the videoclip during calibration operations based on sensor readings.
 19. Themethod to mitigate IR interference from a display device as recited inclaim 16, wherein the series of images corresponds to programmingcontent comprising the video content received by a tuner of a receiverdevice and displayed on the display device, and the measuring the IRemissions corresponds to measuring during the display of the videocontent.
 20. The method to mitigate IR interference from a displaydevice as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising: monitoringfor error rates on received IR signals from an IR remote control; whenthe monitored error rates are determined to satisfy a threshold,automatically initiating the calibration mode; receiving IR signalsduring the calibration mode, the IR signals processed according to theIR configuration; determining an error rate of the IR signals; andadjusting the IR configuration to reduce the error rate.